Filippos: Early Traces and Churches

Filippos invites you to discover history and outdoor activity as different aspects of a stay. Finds dating from the pre-Minoan period have been discovered in the area, and the old Ypapanti church stands in Filippos. Nearby, you can also visit the churches of Maza and hiking destinations. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish between locations: not every historical trace or hiking destination mentioned is in the village itself.

Early Traces in the Area

Pottery and other ancient finds from the pre-Minoan period have been discovered in the area of Filippos. “Pre-Minoan” means that they date to before the Minoan era, placing them in a very early period. The old Ypapanti church stands in Filippos itself. Archaeological evidence from an early period and an old religious building thus offer different points of interest for those interested in cultural history. Maza adds churches with specific artistic and historical features.

Churches Between Filippos and Maza

Maza is located near Filippos. The village’s central square is home to the single-nave, vaulted church of Agios Nikolaos, with rare frescoes by the painter Ioannis Pagomenos dating from 1325. Single-nave means that the church interior has one main nave; the vault defines its spatial form. These architectural features are easy to understand even without prior knowledge of art history. Christ the Savior, dating from the 16th century, stands just outside Maza. The two churches can be distinguished by different features: at Agios Nikolaos, the focus is on its architecture and frescoes, while Christ the Savior is notable for its 16th-century date. Ypapanti, meanwhile, is in Filippos itself. This distinction in location helps you tell apart the historical sites in Filippos and Maza.

Hiking Information Around Filippos

There are also several points of interest for hikers. The APO-05 route through Apokoronas lists a small gorge near Filippos as one of its highlights. Another described hike leaves a riverbed shortly before the end, following an old path uphill to the village of Filippos. The path is overgrown with vegetation but remains recognizable. The gorge is a highlight of the APO-05; on the other hike, the climb to the village defines the final section. If you plan this second route, take the described condition of the path into account and check the current trail conditions before setting out.

Choose a Holiday Rental That Suits Your Itinerary

When looking for a holiday rental in Filippos, first decide whether you mainly want to explore the village’s history or also visit Maza and go hiking nearby. This makes the exact location of a property a useful point of comparison: match its location to the destinations that matter to you. If you want to combine cultural discoveries with outdoor activity, take the different locations into account when planning. For specific properties, it is worth comparing their actual location with the priorities in your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Zourva, Stavros, Xamoudochori, Fragkokastello, Askifou, Kalamitsi Amygdali, Kalamitsi Alexandrou, Sklavopoula

For the broader travel overview: Chania.